Jillian Michaels (pictured training a contestant in Season 15) will not return for Season 16 of "The Biggest Loser."Photo: Trae Patton/NBC

Jillian Michaels announced that she will not return for Season 16 of “The Biggest Loser.” This is the trainer’s third break from the show. A statement from NBC announced: “After helping hundreds of contestants transform their lives and inspiring millions of viewers at home, 'The Biggest Loser' and Jillian Michaels have decided to part ways, and she will not be returning for Season 16 when it airs in the fall.”

Michaels did not appear in Season 3, Season 12 and Season 13 of NBC’s weight-loss competition. However, there is speculation that this departure could be final.

Parade interviewed a source who claimed: “Michaels wants to distance herself from 'The Biggest Loser' brand. Especially considering what happened with Rachel [Frederickson], her feeling is that there isn’t proper attention paid to the contestants’ health or wellness.”

Rachel Frederickson went on last season’s finale of “The Biggest Loser” to show off her weight loss. Yet audiences seemed more concerned than proud when it was revealed that the 24-year-old weighed 105 pounds (she weighed 260 pounds when she started the show). Many critics felt that the weight loss wasn’t actually healthy. Frederickson has since put on another 20 pounds, and claims to now be at her perfect weight.

Michaels was vocal that she did not endorse Frederickson’s drastic weight loss. In an interview with The Tennessean, Michaels said: “At the same time, it’s a competitive reality show. It’s very clear this went way too far. I think there are a lot of answers that everyone including myself are waiting on. I have a meeting with the show’s producers to discuss my concerns.”

Our best guess is that the meeting didn’t go so well. However, Michaels’ rep declined to comment on her departure.

“The Biggest Loser” is currently casting and is slated to return to NBC on Thursday, September 11, at 8 p.m. EDT. Will “The Biggest Loser” be the same without Jillian Michaels? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.